Simon Mignolet's agent has hinted that the highly-rated Sunderland keeper may have to move on if he is to establish himself as Belgium’s No 1

Simon Mignolet's agent has hinted that the highly-rated Sunderland keeper may have to move on if he is to establish himself as Belgium’s No 1.

Mignolet has been Sunderland’s outstanding performer this year, earning praise from his manager Martin O’Neill and a host of other footballing figures, while his form also saw him pick up the North East Football Writers’ Player of the Year award.

But, despite Mignolet’s consistent displays in the Premier League, at international level it has been Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois – enjoying his second season on loan at La Liga high-fliers Atletico Madrid – who has been preferred by Belgium boss Marc Wilmots in the current World Cup qualifying campaign.

With only England shot-stopper Joe Hart keeping more clean sheets this season, it is no surprise that Mignolet is being monitored by the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

And now the 24-year-old’s agent, Guy Vandersmissen, has added to the speculation. “Our ambition is for Simon to play somewhere that he can engage in competition with Thibaut Courtois for the place in goal for Belgium,” Vandersmissen told the Belgian media this week.

“Courtois is fortunate that he is playing for a team that has been doing well lately.”

Mignolet has been a huge hit on Wearside since moving to England from St Truiden for £2m in 2010.

He still has two years left on his current contract but, while there was talk of a new improved deal earlier in the season, there appears to have been little progress since. For his part, Mignolet appears happy at Sunderland and he insists he pays little attention to rumours linking him with a move.

He said recently: “I try to say to people who ask me about being linked with other clubs that it goes in one ear and out of the other.

“That is what you are going to get as a footballer. Sometimes you are a hero and sometimes you are in the eye of a storm — things change quickly.

“The only thing I can do is focus on my own game. All those clubs I am linked with, if I make a mistake on Saturday, I will be un-linked straight away. It will be the exact opposite and that’s why I don’t really get fussed about it.”

While Mignolet may be relaxed about the situation, O’Neill is likely to be unimpressed at Vandersmissen’s comments – particularly as they come just a few weeks after the Black Cats boss criticised Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni for suggesting that backup keeper Keiren Westwood might need to leave Wearside in search of first-team football.

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